You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know – Part One

Surfing Feels vs. Surfing Reality

One of the most humbling parts of surfing is watching yourself on video. In your head, you might feel like you’re absolutely ripping. Then you watch the clip... and it’s a completely different story.

Even top pros go through this. When I interviewed surfers like Matt Meola, they all said the same thing—what felt like a good wave often looked awkward and what felt like nothing sometimes looked incredible. Even Mick Fanning once shared that turns which felt great often looked terrible on film. And turns that felt average? Those were sometimes his best.

That disconnect is real—for beginners and pros alike.

Why Footage Is Non-Negotiable

If you want to improve your surfing, you need to see yourself surf. Here’s why:

• You’ll catch weird habits you didn’t know you had
• You’ll start to understand what’s working and what isn’t
• You can compare your surfing to someone you admire and spot the differences
  

Example: I had a friend who always lifted her right arm but kept her left down. She had no idea until she saw herself on video.

How to Get Surf Footage Without Overthinking It

Yes, it can be tricky—but it’s easier than most people think. You don’t necessarily need super high quality footage. Here’s how to get started:

• Trade off with a friend filming a few waves each with a phone from the beach
• Use Surfline Rewind if your break has it
• Set up a SoloShot or a GoPro on the beach
• Hire a photographer now and then
  

Even a few waves on film can reveal a lot. You don’t need to do it every session—just once in a while to check your form and progress.

Fix Bad Habits Early

The longer a bad habit sticks, the harder it is to undo. If you’ve been surfing for years with poor mechanics, it’s going to take more time to fix so better to catch those issues early.

Use Dry Land Practice to Refine Technique

Here’s why it works:

• No distractions like other surfers or waves
• You can see your body mechanics clearly in a mirror
• You build muscle memory for correct movement
  

Try This Simple Exercise:

• Stand by a mirror
• Get into your surf stance
• Compare your stance vs that of a surfer you admire
• How does it compare? Are you doing a poo stance? How is the alignment of your shoulders, hips, feet, hands, etc?
• Adjust your technique accordingly to mimic what you like
  

Takeaway:

There’s a gap between how surfing feels and how it looks. Everyone—from beginners to world champs—deals with it. If you’re serious about improving, get in the habit of watching yourself. It’s one of the fastest ways to level up.

Enter the Basis Paddle Trainer:

Start building paddle fitness before the swell hits. Match your training to the type of break. It’s the easiest way to boost your wave count—and your progression.

Use the Basis Paddle Trainer to train your paddling anytime, anywhere, so you can catch more waves and have more fun.

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